Dammtjärn - nature reserve

Dammtjärn Nature Reserve covers 129 hectares and is located 25 kilometers northwest of Hassela, in the municipality of Nordanstig.

The area consists of a mosaic of different habitat types, ranging from forests on drier ground to swamp forests, wooded and open wetlands, forest streams, and small forest tarns. A large portion of the forest surrounding the mires in the central part of the reserve consists of old—approximately 150-year-old—spruce swamp forest. The forest is, in places, rich in pendulous lichens, and beaver activity over a long period has created an abundance of dead wood, particularly along the streams.

The diversity and variety within the reserve offer excellent potential for a rich array of species. The area is home to several red-listed species, such as the lichens *Usnea longissima* (garntlav) and *Lobaria pulmonaria* (lunglav), as well as the fungus *Haploporus odorus* (rosenticka).

Old-growth forest and small watercourses
In the northeastern part of the reserve, there is an area of ​​old-growth forest situated on fresher, drier ground. This section contains a relatively high number of old trees. It is evident that this area has remained undisturbed, and large parts of the forest retain the character of a natural, primeval woodland. Scattered throughout are ancient, 200–250-year-old pines—twisted by growth and possessing flat, spreading crowns—that have survived from a previous generation. The wetlands within the reserve are, for the most part, untouched, with only minor, localized impacts from historical ditching.

Several smaller watercourses and streams—most notably Gässån and Bellingtjärnsbäcken—converge in the lake Dammtjärnen. Both Gässån and Bellingtjärnsbäcken are excellent forest streams, home to resident populations of brown trout.

Few trails in the area
Dammtjärnen Nature Reserve is used for outdoor recreation, specifically hunting and fishing. Otherwise, its significance for outdoor recreation is limited, as there are few trails and much of the area consists of wet marshland.

However, the reserve is utilized for outdoor recreation in the form of hunting and fishing. A trail—originally a track for horse-drawn carts—runs through the area. Where this trail crosses the stream Gässån, there is a small bridge or footbridge. Near the lake Vittjärnen, there is a lean-to shelter and a barbecue area, accessible via a trail leading down from a turning area.

Slash-and-burn cultivation and traces of timber floating
During the late 16th century, many Finns migrated to Sweden and the province of Hälsingland. They were permitted to settle on undeveloped Crown lands and cultivate the soil, which they did using the slash-and-burn method. By the 17th century, the Finnish community in Hassela accounted for more than 50 percent of the parish's population. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the use of *fäbodar* (summer mountain pastures) reached its peak, while the forest regions also began to be increasingly affected by the onset of industrialization.

Traces of timber floating can also be found in the area. A substantial remnant of a stone dam—formerly the Styggberg Dam—can be found at the outlet of Dammtjärnen, and various remnants of timber-floating operations, such as log chutes, are present across several streams within the watercourses. These dams were likely used as water reservoirs to facilitate timber floating. In the southwestern parts of the reserve, there are signs that hay harvesting on mires once took place.

Specific rules apply within the nature reserve. It is prohibited to:

1. operate a motor-driven vehicle, except on roads intended for motor vehicle traffic
2. collect firewood; lighting fires is permitted only if you have brought your own firewood
3. break off branches, fell trees or shrubs, or otherwise damage living or dead trees and shrubs—whether standing or fallen
4. damage, pick, or collect plants, fungi, or lichens
5. climb trees containing nests, remain near the nests of birds of prey or the dens/burrows of animals, collect animals, or otherwise harm or disturb wildlife
6. put up signs, posters, placards, or notices, or make inscriptions
7. damage fixed natural features or surface formations—for example, by rearranging or removing stones, digging, or engaging in similar activities
8. use the area for organized competitions without permission from the County Administrative Board
9. use the area for military exercises.

Provision 4 above does not prohibit the picking—for personal use—of berries, edible fungi, and plants that are not included on the Red List.

Facts
Year of protection: 2021
Area: 129 hectares
Character: Swamp forest, wetlands, streams, and small forest tarns
Municipality: Nordanstig
Manager: County Administrative Board
Owner: The State
Type of protected area: Nature reserve